The holidays in Nepal

A festival is always a significant event in Nepal, where people find more joy in such participation. Every festival in Nepal has its own traditional and cultural symbol of different aspects and beliefs. For example, festival of Red Macchindranath chariot is celebrated to bring rain or a good harvest, Mothers or Father’s day to honor a mother or father, to show them love and respect and the biggest festival of Nepal like Dashain and Tihar that brings people together in one place to celebrate the victory of goodness over evil. In fact, the holidays are the best way to understand and appreciate the way of life.

– January:

National Day of Nepal, January 11

Vasant Panchami in late January: Celebration of beginning of the spring season.

– February:

Basanta Panchami: in January / February: return of spring season that is associated with Saraswati, goddess of knowledge and wisdom

Lhosar:Falls in late January popular among Sherpa community lives in Boudhanath and Swayambhunath. Tibetan New Year This festival is the most impressive one which is observed in the month of February by the Sherpas. In this occasion, they organized songs and folk dances. These dances can be seen in Khumbu, Helambu and other northern regions of Nepal and also Bouddhanath in Kathmandu.

Shivaratri or the night of Shiva is observed in February / March. It is celebrated in the honor of Lord Shiva. A large religious fair is held in the Pasupatinath Temple and thousands of people from all over Nepal and India flocks visit the temple to worship Lord Shiva.

Democracy Day: (1951) February 19: Parades, processions, fireworks

– March:

Holi: Or Fagu in early March: Festival of colors to celebrate the end of the Nepali year. This is an opportunity to get together with friends to celebrate and enjoy in good humor represents also the arrival of colorful spring .The Holi symbolizes, the arrival of the hope and joy of beautiful and brighter summer days that ends the winter. Mostly, Nepali youth participated in this festival and decorated themselves with colorful powder and water. This also symbolize joy and friendship among adults.

Ghodejatra: (March / April): Known as the Horse Festival, it is one of the most exciting festivals of Kathmandu. Horse Racing and other sports are held at Tundikhel the largest ground in Kathamandu valley. In other parts of the city, various deities are carried in shoulder high on a palanquin (wooden khat) accompanied by traditional music.

– April:

Chaitra Dasain: in March / April: festival dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati during which they sacrifice goats and buffaloes in the temples.

Bisket Jatra: in April: Nepali New Year – The day is observed as a national holiday celebrated with great enjoyment and respect. On this occasion, Bisket Jatra is held in the city of Bhaktapur.

– May:

Buddha Jayant: Celebrated in mid-May, Nepal is the birth place of Lord Buddha, the Light of Asia. This is observed to honor Lord Buddha, a day of Buddha’s birthday, enlightenment and death of Buddha was also happened in the same day. It is observed with many colorful ceremonies. People celebrate this occasion with great veneration paying tribute to Buddha at the places like Swayambhunath , Bouddhanath and Lumbini.

Tiji Festival: Lo Manthang – Mustang.

Machchhendranath Rath Jatra :The festival is the biggest socio-cultural event of Patan. The wheeled chariot of a deity known as Bungdyo or Red Machchhendranath is made in Pulchowk of Lalitpur and dragged through the city of Patan in several stages until it reaches the destination named Lagankhel.

– August:

Gai Jatra:Celebrated in the late August: A festival celebrated in the memory of ancestors by the family . A biggest Carnival of Nepal that lasts for eight days. Dancing, singing, comedy and everything that brings joy and laughter are its strengths.

Krishnastami: A festival marked in the anniversary of Lord Krishna 7th reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. On this day, impressive ceremonies are conducted at the Krishna Temple in Patan and Changu Narayan and around different part of Nepal.

– September:

Teej:August to mid-September: Teej is a Hindu festival celebrated by Hindu women for the long life and prosperity in their home and good health for their husband. Activities like dance, popular song and the red color of women’s wedding saris and jewelries dominate the days of Teej. The women gather at Shiva temples to pray for a happy married life and those who are singles pray Lord Shiva to find a good husband.

Indra Jatra:It is celebrated in the end of September, the period when the monsoon ends. This festival honors Indra, the rain god is observed with great enthusiasm in Kathmandu Valley. The festival lasts for eight days. In this occasion, the chariot of Kumari, the living goddess, pulled in a procession through the main streets of Kathmandu. The festival is specially known for the drums echoes and masked dancers.

– October :

Dasain: falls in late September to early October: The Dashain festival is the biggest festival for Nepalese people. The whole country is in the enthusiastic holiday mood at the festival.

– November:

Tihare:Falls in October / November: Hindu festival known as the “Festival of Lights”, Tihar is celebrated for five days. The houses are decorated at night and special sweets of different varieties are prepared.

Mani Rimdu Festival: at Tengboche Monastery; Sherpa Dances performed in the Khumbu region. It is held annually in Tengboche and Chiwong monasteries and Thami Gomba. There are Buddhist monks who prayed and worshipped different deities in the monasteries to wipe away the evil and misfortune of their region by following their ancient rituals. Monks with various masks disguised themselves in different forms and they dance together. This occasion is highlighted by much gaiety and celebration.

Vibhaha Panchami: This is the famous festival of Janakpur in the Terai region. The occasion commemorates the marriage of goddess Sita with Lord Ram, one of the most revered Hindu deities. It attracts thousands of pilgrims from India to Janakpur.

– December:

Mahalakshmi Puja : harvest festival.

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